House rules/notes…
Our meeting/classes are In-Person the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays of every month at St. John Neumann Catholic Church 11900 Lawyers Road, Reston, VA 20191 https://saintjn.org/ (held downstairs in Room 5), and ONLINE via Zoom (#2).
To sign up for Zoom notifications and to receive the Meeting Recaps, go to www.meetup.com/catholicbiblestudy and join us! The Zoom Logon is the same every week: Zoom ID: 861 1782 2081 Password: 406952.
After each meeting, I send out Meeting Recaps of what we discussed. Please remember these recaps are unedited and without the pictures. The edited version with pictures will be posted on our website before the next class at www.catholiccatacombs.org. Taylor will notify everyone at that time and provide a link.
Questions encouraged. If you have questions, we ask that you keep them on topic and brief. You can ask in the chat box during the class, or email through Meetup.com, or email me at ron@hallagan.net afterwards.
Respectfulness. We will be discussing differences between religions and between Christian denominations, and we agree to be respectful at all times. Protestants especially are our friends and brothers-in-Christ; in fact, I personally owe part of my return to the faith to them!
No politics. It would be easy for us to self-destruct, but that’s not our goal. Our goal is to learn/understand/apply the Bible and our Catholic faith.
Catholic Prayer & Fellowship. Are you interested in praying the rosary, etc. with other Catholics during the week? Follow fellow member Jason Goldberg at https://www.meetup.com/online-catholic-prayer-fellowship-and-spirituality/. Daily/weekly prayer is saintly!
“The Chosen” TV series. All of us seek a relationship with Jesus Christ, which is not always easy. It can help if we have seen and heard Him. The Chosen captures Jesus better than any show I have ever seen. Highly recommended.
RSVP Reminder: Please RSVP whether you are attending the meeting or just reading the Recaps afterwards. The more RSVPs, the more Meetup will give exposure to “Catholic Bible Study” – a good thing!
Website: CatholicCatacombs.org
Bible Study Format
Each week of the month has a repeating theme, as noted below.
Weekly Themes
Wk 1: Gospel Week – we study several Gospel stories, especially the tough ones.
Wk 2: Bible Week – we are working our way through the Bible. We are in The Book of 2 Kings.
Wk 3: Survey Topics Voted on by Members:
x 1) Great Women in the Bible 2) Book of Revelation 3) Fathers, Heresies, and Church Councils
Wk 4: Member Questions/Apologetics:
35% Explain Mother Teresa’s “Dark Night of the Soul.”
28% What is Tradition? Is Tradition equal to Scripture in importance? (2Thes2:15)
28% What about the atheist who leads a good life? Can I be a person be good apart from God?
21% Explain what happens to animals after they die. Will we see our pets?
14% Was Emperor Constantine good or bad? Was he a Christian? How was the Church affected?
Please explain Limbo.
Could you review of Plenary and Partial Indulgences again?
The format for each weekly meeting is (roughly) as follows:
15 min Catholic topic/catechesis
15 min Upcoming Gospel reading
30 min Weekly topic/theme
1 hour
Reader for the day… (not always needed, Taylor will select)
Our Bible Study is a combination of Exegesis and Apologetics.
Study and interpretation of Scripture A reasoned defense of the faith
Upcoming major holy days: All Saints Day, Nov 1
Opening Prayer: Lord Jesus, we ask you to bless all of us who have come here tonight
to immerse ourselves in the study of your Word.
Give us the light of your wisdom
As we study the painful events in Israel after the life of your servant, King Solomon.
And as you taught us to pray together:
Our Father, Who art in Heaven, Hallowed be Thy Name.
Thy Kingdom come, Thy Will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven.
Give us this day our daily Bread
And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. Amen.
Quote of the Week: “If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of
God rests upon you.” – 1 Peter 4:14
TODAY: Catholic Topic/Catechesis – The Sacraments – more general information
Sunday’s Gospel Reading – 9/15, 24th Sun in Ordinary Time, Mark 8:27-35 Discipleship of Self-denial
Weekly Theme: Bible Timeline: We are in 2nd Kings – The Divided Kingdom
The Seven Sacraments
What is a sacrament?
Favorite: Heaven and Earth touch 🡪 Spiritual meets Physical 🡪 God touches Man with Grace.
Official: A sacrament is a physical sign, instituted by Christ, that gives humans grace.
Why physical?
For the same reason Jesus became a physical human. The unique physical-spiritual human nature was God’s idea, separate from the purely spiritual and purely material.
“God never meant man to be a purely spiritual creature. That is why He uses material things like bread and wine to put the new life into us. We may think this rather crude and unspiritual. God does not: He invented eating. He likes matter. He invented it.” – CS Lewis
How many?
Seven, the number of wholeness/perfection.
What “Sacramental Act” preceded the seven sacraments and serves as a model for all of them?
The Incarnation: The 2nd Person of the Trinity/Logos (spiritual) becomes Jesus Christ (physical) to bring us sanctifying grace and every other grace.
What is the greatest of the Sacraments?
The Eucharist, which is the Incarnation of Jesus into the Bread and Wine initiated at the Last Supper. Representing Jesus’ sacrifice and our participation in the sacrificial meal (fulfilling the first Passover meal in Egypt), the Eucharist makes all the other sacraments possible.
How many groups are the Sacraments categorized into?
The seven sacraments of the Catholic Church are categorized into three distinct groups, reflecting their purpose and significance in the life of a Christian: Initiation, Healing, Vocation.
Sacraments of Christian Initiation:
Baptism (once)
Confirmation (once)
Holy Eucharist (endless) – “I will be with you for the rest of time.” (Mt 28:20)
These sacraments lay the foundation for every Christian life, marking the beginning of a person’s journey in faith. Baptism initiates the individual into the Christian community, Confirmation is the second installment of the HS and the grace to be a defender of Christ, and the Eucharist is Trinitarian nourishment from here all the way to Heaven.
Sacraments of Healing:
Forgiveness (Penance/Reconciliation/Confession)
Anointing of the Sick
These sacraments address the healing of the soul and body, providing grace and restoration to those who are spiritually or physically in need.
Sacraments of Vocation, or sacraments at the Service of Communion and Mission:
Matrimony
Holy Orders
These sacraments are oriented towards the service of others and the mission of the Church, enabling individuals to live out their vocations in a way that contributes to the community and the God’s plan for us.
Order of receiving… Although categorized as they are above, the order of receiving is different. Adults can receive the sacraments of initiation and reconciliation around the same time. For a young person coming up in the faith, the sacraments are typically received in the following order:
Baptism
Forgiveness (Penance/Reconciliation/Confession)
Eucharist
Confirmation
5. Marriage and 6. Holy Orders are vocations; life commitments into which God enters and intimately participates.
7. Anointment of the Sick is the sacrament given when people who are gravely sick, to prepare them for the journey to the afterlife. (Last Rites…)
Last week we discussed Baptism.
Next week: The Sacrament of Penance/Forgiveness/Reconciliation/Confession
Sunday’s Gospel: Mark 8:27-35 – Jesus’ declaration; Peter’s declaration; The criteria for discipleship.
Context: There are three distinct parts to our reading for Sunday, but they are also all related.
First is the identification of Jesus
Second is Jesus first prediction of his passion (suffering/death) and his exchange with Peter
Third is Jesus’ explanation of the requirements for discipleship
Location: The Apostles have just left Bethsaida and are heading to Caesarea Philippi. Caesarea Philippi was a collection of four villages that Herod Philip (another of Herod the Great's sons) rebuilt into a large Hellenistic city, naming it after the Roman emperor (Caesarea) and attaching his own name.
Mark 8:27-35
Jesus and his disciples set out for the villages of Caesarea Philippi. Along the way he asked his disciples, "Who do people say that I am?"They said in reply, "John the Baptist, others Elijah, still others one of the prophets."And he asked them, "But who do you say that I am?"Peter said to him in reply, "You are the Christ."Then he warned them not to tell anyone about him.
Now that the disciples understand He is the Messiah, Jesus will next begin to reveal his coming Passion – rejection, suffering, death, and resurrection – but they won’t be able to understand why, with his obvious divine powers, why he would let such a thing happen? Besides, if this “passion” happens, how will he usher in the New Davidic Kingdom?
Q: Jesus is very particular about how and when he uses his powers. What do you think the criteria was?
He used his powers 1) to help people (never himself), 2) in response to people’s faith, 3) to show that he was not just another prophet, but from God.
He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer greatly and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and rise after three days.
In sharing this secret with the disciples, Jesus is correcting the common misperception that the Messiah is coming to vanquish Israel’s enemies and re-establish the Davidic kingdom on earth just as it had been in the glory days of kings David and Solomon. As we now know, Jesus came to open up the Kingdom of Heaven to humans, not expand an earthly kingdom.
Then Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. At this, Jesus turned around and, looking at his disciples, rebuked Peter and said, "Get behind me, Satan. You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do."
Peter knows by now that the Temple hierarchy has no power over the Christ, and so he cannot comprehend why Jesus would allow Himself to be killed by those in authority over the Mosaic Covenant when He could simply consume them in holy fire like the rebellious priestly sons of Aaron at the Tabernacle in Exodus.
Peter is so taken back by this that he pulls Jesus aside and rebukes Jesus. He gives Jesus a tongue-lashing! Can you imagine?
Jesus is having none of this. Interestingly, he gives Peter the same rebuke that He gave Satan initially in the desert (“Satan, depart from me” – Mt 4:10). As a matter of fact, this is a similar temptation – the bread out of stone, have the angels catch you if you fall, etc. In this case, Jesus, just take the crown of the kingdom without the cross!
There are 2 theories to the meaning of Jesus’ comment to Peter, and you can take your pick. The first is that Satan is indeed present and trying to stop Jesus, and so Jesus is directing his comment towards Satan. The second meaning recognizes that the Hebrew word satan literally means adversary, which is how Satan was initially named. Whenever one stands as an adversary to God’s plan for man’s salvation, that person is acting as “Satan” in human form. The word can be used both ways. Then again, there is no doubt Satan was at work in this “temptation,” so it’s kind of both, anyway.
It is also important to note that Jesus’ revelation of his suffering and death is a fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecies of the Suffering Servant (Is 52:13-53:12). This revelation marks a new phase in Jesus’ ministry.
Now we move onto the third segment of the reading: the cost of discipleship. In this passage, Jesus directs his comments not just to the Apostles, but to everyone, which includes us:
Jesus summoned the crowd with his disciples and said to them, "Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and that of the gospel will save it."
This is the first mention of the cross in Mark’s Gospel, which is interesting since no one knew yet the manner of Jesus’ suffering and death. No doubt that perplexed them further, since the image of a cross is the Roman’s horrifying instrument of death in the execution of criminals. It would have been a shocking metaphor for the path of discipleship.
What three verbs does Jesus use in his instructions for the conditions of true discipleship?
Deny, Take, and Follow.
What did Jesus mean by these commands?
He says true discipleship is based on:
The willingness “to deny” selfish desires by daily dying to oneself in order to live for Christ.
Being willingly “to take” and endure those struggles/crosses that are necessary in order …
“To follow” Jesus’ teachings faithfully in service to the Kingdom of God,
What is the irony, and what is the reward?
The irony is the that by disowning one’s self-interest (a self-centered earthly existence) to the point of being willing to give up everything, one gains everything – eternal life/happiness.
Fortunately, most of us are not put to this test in our lives, but it happens in many places around the world. And one day it could happen here. I have reminded myself on occasion that if it comes to that, and I lose everything, I will be fine. I will have God and we will start over, whatever that entails. Now, I haven’t told my wife that yet, so I’ll let you know how that goes.
Bible Timeline 7:35
Where are we so far in our Biblical Timeline?
Book Timeline
Genesis – Ch 1-11: (15,000?-2100 BC) Adam to Noah to Nimrod and the Tower of Babel (called pre-“history”)
Ch 11-50: (2,100-1,800 BC) Abraham, Issac, and Jacob, 12 sons/tribes, Joseph into Egypt 🡪 slavery
Exodus – (1,450-1350 BC) Moses – out of Egypt/slavery to Mt. Sinai to the promised land/40 years in the wilderness.
Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy - all take place during the 40 years in the wilderness.)
Joshua – (1350-1250 BC) Conquest of Israel and the division of land among Israel’s twelve tribes.
Judges – (1250-1050 BC) “Israel” ruled by 12 Judges from Joshua to King Saul
1st Samuel (1050BC- 980 BC) King Saul and King David
2nd Samuel (1010BC- 970 BC) 40-year reign of King David
1 Kings (970BC – 930BC) 40-year reign of King Solomon
2 Kings – Divided Kingdom (~900 BC)
Recap: Solomon’s Later Years
In his later years, Solomon begins to turn away from the Lord, and his greatness became marred by his own moral failings. In making deals with neighboring countries, he accumulated many foreign wives which led to the worship of pagan gods in Israel. He also built a palace for himself larger than even the Temple and amassed a huge army, all of which placed an immense tax burden on the people of Israel. These things sowed the seeds of discontent among the people and would eventually lead to the division of the kingdom after his death.
The LORD became angry with Solomon, because his heart turned away from the LORD, the God of Israel, who had appeared to him twice and commanded him not to do this very thing, not to follow other gods. But he did not observe what the LORD commanded. So the LORD said to Solomon: Since this is what you want, and you have not kept my covenant and the statutes which I enjoined on you, I will tear the kingdom away from you and give it to your servant. – 1 Kings 11:9-13
Was Solomon ultimately saved?
If he repented, he would be saved. Jewish tradition says that Solomon wrote three books in the Bible – Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Song of Songs. If so, it would appear that Solomon indeed repented.
The Division of the Kingdom
After Solomon's death, his son Rehoboam became king. The ten northernmost tribes, led by Jeroboam – a former right hand of Solomon’s – rebelled against Rehoboam's harsh policies and formed a separate kingdom in the north. Rehoboam (Solomon’s son) retained control over the southern kingdom, which included the capital of Jerusalem.
This period of the Divided Kingdom can basically be recounted in three acts: The division of the kingdom, the resulting northern kingdom, and the resulting southern kingdom.
In act one, Solomon’s son Rehoboam is made the new king. Rather than easing the people’s burdens which Solomon had created, Rehoboam increases their burdens (taxes, etc.), and the weight tears the kingdom apart.
Act two… the ten tribes of the north, under the leadership of Jeroboam, make up the Northern Kingdom and they retain the name “Israel.” Tragically, the Northern Kingdom breaks away not only from the political rule of the Davidic kingdom, but also from worship in Jerusalem’s Temple. Jeroboam did not want the northern tribes going to Jerusalem to worship, so he created their own cult in direct opposition to God’s law in the Torah. This points the kingdom in the direction of downfall right from its outset.
Act three… the remaining southern Kingdom under Rehoboam takes the name “Judah,” which was the principle tribe of that region that included Jerusalem. The people of Judah would become known as the “Jews.” Unlike the Northern Kingdom, whose kings all prove unfaithful, the Southern Kingdom will have several heroic kings who prove faithful to God’s law. Eventually, however, the wickedness of unfaithful kings will eventually lead God’s people into exile and the loss of the Promised Land. But even in this dark moment of Israel’s history, the “prophets” will kindle a light of hope.
The Kingdom of Israel (North)
Jeroboam, the first king of the northern kingdom of Israel, established his capital in Samaria and set up two golden calves for the people to worship, fearing that if they continued to go to Jerusalem, they might return their allegiance to the house of David. This act of religious apostasy set the tone for the subsequent kings of Israel, most of whom were wicked and led the people further away from God.
The Kingdom of Judah (South)
In the southern kingdom of Judah, the line of David and Solomon’s descendants continued to rule, though not without their own struggles. Some kings, like Asa and Jehoshaphat, were faithful to the Lord, while others, like Athaliah and Manasseh, were deeply wicked and led the people into idolatry.
The Prophets and their Messages
During this period, God raised up prophets, such as Elijah, Elisha, and Isaiah, to confront the kings and call the people back to faithfulness. Elijah's dramatic confrontation with the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel and his subsequent flight from the wrath of Queen Jezebel are vividly recounted.
One could call the time from the division of the Monarchy (~900 BC) to the Babylonian Exile (~600 BC) as roughly the age of the prophets. They played a crucial role in denouncing the sins of the kings and warning of the impending judgment if the people did not repent. This was also the time of many of the Messianic prophecies occurred. All the recurring failures of the chosen people made it clear that humankind was without a doubt unable to save themselves, and a savior (Messiah) was their only hope.
The decline and fall of the kingdoms
As the kingdoms of Israel and Judah continued in their unfaithfulness, they faced increasing threats from foreign powers. The northern kingdom of Israel was eventually conquered by the Assyrians in 722 BC, and the southern kingdom of Judah was later conquered by the Babylonians in 597 BC, leading to the Babylonian exile.
The Northern Kingdom Falls – 722 BC
In 722 BC, the northern kingdom of Israel was attacked by the Assyrians. The Assyrians were militant and harsh. They didn’t want a large number of Jews living in one area to be able to revolt, so they split them up and sent them into different parts of their empire. Some of the Israelites fled south to Judah, which remained free for 135 more years.
The Southern Kingdom of Judah Falls – 597 BC
The city of Babylon (present-day Iraq) eventually revolted against the Assyrians and won. The Babylonians, led by King Nebuchadnezzar, expanded their kingdom and became known as the Second Babylonian Empire. In 597 BC, Nebuchadnezzar attacked the kingdom of Judah. The Babylonians burned Jerusalem, destroyed Solomon's temple, and enslaved the Jews. They marched them back to Babylonian where they would be enslaved for about 50+ years. This became known as the Babylonian Captivity. This was a time of exile for the Jews. Exile means separation from one's homeland.
While the Jews were in Babylon, prophets such as Daniel and Ezekiel urged them to still obey scriptures and be faithful to God. This was very difficult since Nebuchadnezzar did not allow religious freedom and often forced the Jews to worship him. In one famous story, Nebuchadnezzar throws three Hebrews, including Daniel, into a burning furnace for refusing to worship him. Daniel and his two fellow Hebrews miraculously do not burn.
Persian Empire: Cyrus the Great
In 539 BC, the Persian Empire was on the move. They were led by King Cyrus, who would become known as Cyrus the Great. The Persian Empire conquered the Babylonians and took their lands including Judah.
Cyrus the Great was a very reasonable ruler and tolerant of his people's many different customs. He allowed the Jews to worship God and even let them return home.
When Cyrus allowed the Jews to return home, some Jews returned, and some stayed in Babylon. This became known as the “Diaspora,” or the scattering of the Jews outside of Israel. Diaspora is a Greek word that means "to scatter."
The Jews who did return home began rebuilding the Temple. It was nothing nearly as grand as Solomon’s Temple. They completed the new temple in 515 BC and then began rebuilding Jerusalem's walls. (Herod expanded this temple dramatically around the time of Jesus, in the hopes of winning the favor of the Jews.)
Next: The Prophets
Review
1. Into what two kingdoms did Israel split? Where did Solomon's descendants rule?
2. In 722 BC, what happened to the northern kingdom of Israel?
3. What was the Babylonian Captivity?
4. Describe Cyrus the Great.
5. What is the Diaspora?
6. What did the Jews who returned to their homeland do?
Closing Prayer
Proverbs 3:5-6
O God we pray, help our feet to make haste to run from evil today.
Help us to flee sin, immorality, idolatry in every way. Help us to run from it.
God, we pray that you would help us to keep from being a false witness who breathes out lies.
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee.
Blessed are thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God,
pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death.
Amen.
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